BUCCANEERS 19 GALWAY BAY 0

Buccaneers U-15s opened their league campaign with a home fixture against a big Galway Bay side on a sunlit Saturday in September. Buccs were undercooked as this was their first outing this season and initially surrendered possession and had to rely on some great tackling with captain Rueben Colleran leading the way. Nathan Kelly then scored the first of his three tries with a bullocking run up the touch line.

The away side came back strongly with wayward kicking by Buccs bringing the Bay full back into play and only Darragh Glennon’s clever defence saving the day time after time. Buccs led 12-0 at half time and after several close attempts in the second period finally clinched the game with Kelly’s third score 15 minutes from time completing the 19-0 scoreline. In truth Bay found it hard to get into the Buccs half but Buccs found it just as hard to cross the try line.

Buccs will need to improve on this performance if they are to go any further but Kelly, Glennon, Ciaran West and Colleran gave a good account of themselves. Best wishes to Phillip Finnan for a quick return to play.

BUCCANEERS:- C West, J Kelly, D Ryan, E Claffey, P Bourke, R Colleran, H Hannon, N Kelly, O Egan, A Cotton, A Connors, S Nugent, D Glennon, R Nagle, S Brett, D Cleary, D Dullea, C Brazil, G Stavus, S Nitolescue, R Dolan, A Browne, F Byrne, P Finnan and T Afridi.